Rafter Angle Square Door Clamp Stand System

ABSTRACT

A rafter angle square door clamp stand system functions like a truss, utilizing tension and compression. A horizontal tension base is suspended off of the ground by rotatable support members, one at each end of the base. The tension base has a “T” shaped slot that runs the length of the base. Two rafter angle squares, each having a “T” shaped member, slide into the slot of the base, one from each end of the base, with the vertical edges of the angle squares facing each other. The weight of the door on the tension base causes the base to flex downward, and the rafter squares to compress, holding the door in an upright position. Stop elements prevent the angle squares from moving backwards when the door is compressed and clamped. The system can be converted to support cylindrical objects, by reversing the positions of the angle squares.

PRIOR RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional application62/204,662, filed on Aug. 3, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have been many types of clamp stands for maintaining doors, wallpanels, and other relatively narrow, elongated work pieces in uprightpositions, in order to perform various types of work, including cutting,trimming, painting, edge planing, and installation of door hinges andother hardware. Prior clamp stands have generally utilized upstandingclamp members, secured in some fashion to a base. Some other stands haveused swinging, slideable, or lever operated components to clamp workpieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantagesand limitations of prior door clamp stands and specifically rafter anglesquare door clamp stands, by providing such a stand which is unique andversatile in design, easier and more efficient to use, simple to store,and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, arafter angle square door clamp stand system which functions like atruss, utilizing tension and compression. A horizontal tension base issuspended off of the ground by two rotatable support members, one ateach end of the base The tension base has a “T” shaped slot that runsthe length of the base. Two rafter angle squares, each having a “T”shaped member, slide into the “T” slot of the base, one from each end ofthe base, with the vertical edges of the angle squares facing eachother. The weight of the door or similar elongated panel on the tensionbase causes the base to flex downward, and the rafter squares tocompress holding the door in an upright horizontal position. Stopelements prevent the angle squares from moving backwards when the dooris compressed and clamped. The system can also be converted to supportcylindrical objects, by reversing the positions of the angle squares.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic, of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use,together with additional features and advantages thereof, are bestunderstood upon review of the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the rafter angle square door clamp system in itsstorage or transport position.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the rafter angle square door clamp systemin its door clamping position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the rafter angle square door clamp system in itsdoor clamping position.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the rafter angle square door clamp systemin its cylindrical object supporting position.

FIG. 5 is a detailed, broken away view taken from FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the rafter angle square door clamp system in itscylindrical object supporting position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the rafter angle square door clampsystem, shown supporting and clamping a door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The rafter angle square door clamp stand system 2 of the presentinvention comprises first angle square 4, second angle square 5,elongated tension base 14, base support members 22 and 24, firstprotective pad member 30, second protective pad member 14, and non-slipstop elements 40 and 41.

First angle square 4 comprises first edge 6 having outwardly extending,“T” shaped foot member 8, and non-foot member edges 10 and 12. Secondangle square 5 comprises first edge 7 having outwardly extending “T”shaped foot member 9, and non-foot member edges 11 and 13.

Elongated tension base 14 comprises shaped slot 16 which extends thelength of the tension base. Incremental measurement markings 20 arelocated on the surface of tension base 14. Base support members 22 and24 are each rotatably secured to tension base 14 by means of screws,rivets, or equivalent connectors 26 and 27, best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5,connecting tension base 6 and base support member 22. Non-slip padding23 and 25 are located on the bottoms of support members 22 and 24. Holes44 and 45 are provided in order to permit system 2 to be hung forstorage.

First protective pad member 30 comprises slots 32 and 34 which extendthe length of the pad member. Non-slip protective padding 36 is locatedon the outer surface of pad member 30. Second protective pad member 31comprises slots 33 and 35 which extend the length of the pad member.Non-slip protective padding. 37 is located on the outer surface of padmember 31.

Non-slip stop elements 40 and 42 are screw tension members, each havingnon-slip material layers 41 and 43.

In use for supporting a door, e.g. door 50, in a first use position,slots 32 and 33 of protective pad members 30 and 31 are slid onto edges12 and 13 of angle squares 4 and 5. “T” shaped foot members 8 and 9 ofangle squares 4 and 5 are then slid into “T” shaped slot 16 toward thecenter of tension base 14, until the space between the angle squaresequals the width of door 50. Measurement markings 20 are used to ensurethat angle squares 4 and 5 are spaced apart to accept the width of door50. Base support members 22 and 24 are rotated so that they areperpendicular to tension base 14 and secured in this position by screwconnections 26 and 27. Stop elements 40 and 41 are slid into slot 16until they contact angle squares 4 and 5. The stop elements are thentightened to secure the angle squares to the tension base. The completedpositioning of system 2 for supporting a door is best seen in FIGS. 2,3, and 7.

Door 50 is positioned on tension base 14, between angle squares 4 and 5,as seen in FIG. 7. The weight of door 50 puts downward pressure ontension base 14. Since tension base 14 is connected to vertical edges 12and 13 of angle squares 4 and 5 within slot 16, the tension base willflex downward, causing the diagonal edges 10 and 11 of the angle squaresto compress towards door 50, thus clamping the door in place.

Protective pad member 30, with its non-slip protective padding 36, andprotective pad member 31, with its non-slip protective padding 37,attached to vertical edges 12 and 13 of angle squares 4 and 5, firmlyhold door 50 and ensure it is not damaged. Stop elements 40 and 41prevent angle squares 4 and 5 from moving backwards when door 50 iscompressed and clamped. Support members 22 and 24, with their non-slipbottom padding 23 and 25, elevates tension base 14, so that it is freeto flex downward when door 50 is positioned on the tension base. Supportmembers also assist in stabilizing door 50 from any lateral movement.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, angle squares 4 and 5 can be inserted intoslot 16 of tension base 14, such that their diagonal edges 10 and 11face each other. Protective pad members 30 and 31 are positioned onedges 10 and 11. In this use position, system 2 can be used as a standfor working or marking out center lines on cylindrical objects 60, suchas columns, pipes, and sonotubes.

System 2 can easily be transformed into a storage or transport position,shown in FIG. 1. From one of the use positions describe above, supportmembers 22 and 24 are rotated, such that they are parallel to tensionbase 14 and secured in this position by screw connectors 26 and 27.Next, stop elements 40 and 41 are loosened and removed from slot 16 oftension base 14. Angle squares 4 and 5 are then slid out of and removedfrom slot 16 of tension base 14. Protective pad members 30 and 31 arethen slid off angle squares 4 and 5 and inserted into slot 16 via theirslots 34 and 35, such that the end of the pad members are adjacent toeach other. Stop elements 40 and 41 are then returned to and insertedinto slot 16 until they contact pad members 30 and 31. Stop elements 40and 41 are tightened to maintain the pad members within slot 16, flushon the top surface of tension base 14.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed indetail in order to make the invention clear in at least one formthereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention asdisclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details asdisclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A rafter angle square door clamp stand comprising: first and secondangle squares, each said angle square having three edges, one of theedges on each angle square comprising an outwardly extending footmember; an elongated tension base comprising slot means extending thelength of the tension base for receiving the outwardly extending footmember and maintaining the angle squares perpendicular in relation tothe tension base; base support members rotatably connected beneath thetension base; and stop means for securing the angle squaresperpendicular in relation to the tension base.
 2. The clamp stand as inclaim 1 wherein the outwardly extending foot members are “T” shaped andthe slot means is a “T” shaped slot which conforms to the shape of thefoot member, whereby foot members are slideably insertable into theslot.
 3. The clamp stand as in claim 1 wherein the support members arerotatably connected to the ends of the tension base.
 4. The clamp standas in claim 1 wherein non-skid material is located on bottom surfaces ofthe support members.
 5. The clamp stand as in claim 1 wherein the stopmeans comprises non-slip stop elements.
 6. The clamp stand as in claim 1further comprising first and second protective pad members, eachprotective pad member comprising pad slot means for receiving andmaintaining one of the two edges which does not have the foot member. 7.The clamp stand as in claim 1 wherein the tension base comprisesincremental measurement lines.
 8. A right angle square door clamp standcomprising: first and second angle squares, each said angle squarehaving three edges, one of the edges on each angle square comprising anoutwardly extending foot member; an elongated tension base comprising aslot extending the length of the tension base; support means rotatablyconnected beneath the tension base; and stop means for securing theangle squares perpendicular in relation to the tension base.
 9. Theclamp stand as in claim 8 wherein the outwardly extending foot membersare “T” shaped and the slot means is a “T” shaped slot which conforms tothe shape of the foot members, whereby foot members are slideablyinsertable into the slot.
 10. The clamp stand as in claim 8 wherein thesupport members are rotatably connected to the ends of the tension base.11. The clamp stand as in claim 8 wherein non-skid material is locatedon bottom surfaces of the support members.
 12. The clamp stand as inclaim 8 wherein the stop means comprises non-slip stop elements.
 13. Theclamp stand as in claim 8 further comprising first and second protectivepad members, each protective pad member comprising pad slot means forreceiving and maintaining one of the two edges which does not have thefoot member.
 14. The clamp stand as in claim 8 wherein the tension basecomprises incremental measurement lines.
 15. A right angle square doorclamp stand system comprising: first and second angle squares, each saidangle square having first, second, and third edges, the first edge ofeach angle square comprising an outwardly extending foot member; anelongated tension base comprising a slot extending the length of thetension base; support means rotatably connected beneath the tensionbase; first and second protective pad members, each pad membercomprising pad slots; stop means for securing the angle squares to thetension base in a first position and for securing the protective pads tothe tension base in a second position, whereby in the first position theoutwardly extending foot member of each of the angle squares is securedwithin the elongated slot of the tension base by the stop means so thatthe angle squares are perpendicular in relation to the tension base andthe second edges of each of the angle squares are each located in one ofthe protective pad member slots, and in the second position theprotective pad members are stored on the tension base, with one of theprotective pad member slots secured within the slot of the tension baseby the stop means.
 16. The clamp stand system as in claim 15 wherein theoutwardly extending foot members are “T” shaped and the slot means is a“I” shaped slot which conforms to the shape of the foot members, wherebyfoot members are slideably insertable into the slot.
 17. The clamp standsystem as in claim 15 wherein the support members are rotatablyconnected to the ends of the tension base.
 18. The clamp stand system asin claim 15 wherein non-skid material is located on bottom surfaces ofthe support members.
 19. The clamp stand system as in claim 15 whereinthe stop means comprises non-slip stop elements.
 20. The clamp standsystem as in claim 15 wherein the tension base comprises incrementalmeasurement lines.